I have been reading McCallum's book and wanted to see your thoughts about it. The book reads nicely but does sound contradictory in some parts. For example, the author emphasizes strength training and avoiding lengthy workouts yet most of the routines he provides are high rep sets and amalgamates a multi faceted full body workout. For example combining hyperextensions, squats, front squats, bench, behind neck press, pullovers, power cleans, rowing and curls. The squats are 5 to 10 reps in his routines.
I'm just confused as to how such a routine was perceived as quick and short by the author who seems quite poised and knowledgeable. There is no emphasis at all at long rest between the sets and the emphasis is on breathing squats which I have not seen you ever discuss.
I'm interested, for practical and also academic purposes, to hear your thoughts and critique of this book, and explanations as to why the author promoted these lengthy routines while not deeming them as such.
Nobody really knew John McCallum. He mailed his pieces to York in the 60s, brown paper envelope, no telephone communication, no discussions, no other interaction. Suggs and Starr edited the articles and ran them as they showed up from somewhere in the Northwest, and they mailed the checks back to the return address. As far as I'm concerned, the primary value of the Keys stories is their basic message of lift big/eat big, not in the particular details. McCallum is a great writer, much better than I will ever be, and he was just a pleasure to read. I can only imagine how many copies of Strength And Health he sold for Hoffman back then, with guys all over the world waiting each month for the next installment.
The reason McCallum is so contradictory is because he was writing about bodybuilding as well as pure strength. He even threw in some Olympic lifting stuff, sorta.
I started reading his stuff in high school in the mid 60s, and yes indeed, I couldn't wait for the next installment.
You are a terrific (terrific) writer, speaker, and role model.
Thank you ever so much for this eloquent and enlightening intro.
If possible to talk about these early pubs (including Randal strossen' super "breathing" squats) on the next podcast? I’ll be very grateful.
I haven't got anything good to say about Dr. Strossen, so I'll probably leave him off the podcast.
For a novice trainee that does not power clean, how do you determine which light day pulling variant to use? I know there are RDLs, rows, SLDL, light deadlift, chins, and a few more, but I'm not sure why a trainee would choose one over the other.
I recommend the power clean. Why do you not do them?
I'm unable to rack the power clean because of disproportionately long forearms (confirmed by SSC). Power snatch is fun, but I understand that the weight will not be enough to drive up the deadlift.
If I were coaching you I'd have you do 80% deadlifts. How old are you?
36, 6'2", 245lbs, and the last pull was 350 with hook grip. What is the reasoning for the light deadlift versus the other variants?
What is the reasoning for the other variants vs the light deadlift?
No, why would a person that does not power clean do the light deadlifts (as you suggested) versus the other variants. Thanks again.
I'm asking you why you'd rather do variants as opposed to light deadlifts.
I don't have an opposition to the light deadlift. SSC told me I could pick RDL, row, or light deadlift, which is different than your recommendation. I'm curious why the advice is different or if the advice could change down the road.
Opinions vary. My opinion is that for light pulling purposes, the power clean is the best option and light deadlifts are the second best option.
My Cues are Not the Same as Your Cues –Carl Raghavan
My Training Philosophy –Carl Raghavan
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